Eight Big East teams have won between 60% and 70% of their games sinceexpansion, andMU is theonlyonethathasdoneit without any 5-star players. Butcome tournament time, thefact is Big East teams make NCAA runs whenthey have 5-star players on thecourtwith at least a yearundertheirbelts. Consider:

In 2009, DanteTaylorbecamePitt’s first 5-star recruitandshowedoccasionalsigns of promisefornextyear, sohecouldemergetoleadPittthisseason. Last week I toldmycounterparts in Pittaboutmystudyshowing 5-starsusuallyemergetodominateduringtheirsophomoreyears, andtheyconfirmedthat all the talk thisyear is thatTaylor is dominating.

In 2010, whenVander Bluetakesthecourt as Marquette’s first 5-star we cancertainly hope he is a star rightawaylikeLanceStephenson was forCincinnati last year as theonly 5-star with a big freshmanyear. However, it is very rare that a 5-star dominates in hisfreshmanyear in the Big East, and even on those rare occasions (CarmeloAnthonyandDante Green are reallytheonlytwo in recent history), itusuallyresults in themachievingone-and-done status.

IfMarquettecandeveloptwo 3-stars (Wade andNovak) andthree 4-stars (Diener, MatthewsandHayward) intoNBAplayers in 8 years, we certainlycanexpectourfirst ever 5-star todominate. However, while we canexpectimmediate IMPACT, we probably have towaituntil Vander’s sophomoreseasonbefore we willseeDOMINANCE.

During his five-year NBA career Diener averaged 4.8 points and 2.4 assists per game. Last season injuries and crowded rosters in both Indiana and Portland limited Diener to just nine games played, a career low. Diener obviously hopes to have an opportunity to log major minutes in one of Europe's top leagues in hopes of someday returning to the NBA or securing a longer-term contract.

But wait, there's more.....From the "It's Never Too Early To Think About The Regular Season Department" the guys over at South Orange Juice, a Seton Hall blog, are previewing the BIG EAST season in a series of posts. The Juicers slot MU in as the conference's 9th best team, a position we're confident the Warriors will surpass this winter.

Rush the Court sees more promise for MU this season (we agree), picking the Warriors 6th in the BIG EAST as part of their must-read 'Summer School' post today. Still, Buzz Williams and MU take a well-deserved smack from the authors for the debacle surrounding the perceived swap of former signee D.J. Newbill for transfer Jamil Wilson.

Last season James played for Mersin in the Turkish Basketball Association averaging 14 points and 4 assists per game. Mersin finished the year at 12-18, 12th in the 16 team league. Prior to the LukoilAkademik agreement James played with the Milwaukee Bucks summer league outfit.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Marquette Club of Kansas City is undertaking an initiative to bring the Dick Enberg-authored stage play, "Don't Undress Until You Die: The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire," to Kansas City this November, just days before the Warriors hit the court at the 2010 CBE Classic.

The Marquette Club has the full support of both Dick Enberg and the booking agency responsible for promoting the newly expanded one-man show. Now the Club needs to raise money ASAP to secure a performance in Kansas City on November 20. Michael Grimaldi and Dick Cook from the MU Club in Kansas City are spearheading the effort and are working to secure $25,000 of financial or in-kind support. The guys are working with several local businesses and the MU alumni network in Kansas City, with promising results.

If you’re planning to attend the CBE in Kansas City and want to see the show – or if you’re just interested in helping fellow Marquette alums share the institution's karma via the Patron Saint of Marquette Hoops please contact Dick Cook at dick.cook@hostessbrands.com or Michael Grimaldi at mgrimaldi@trozzolo.com